Lady Lions crush Crusaders, 81-25

Game was "worth the wait" for three players

Next up, the SAGU Classic on Friday and Saturday

BOX SCORE (link below)

PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE: Jirah Rodriguez returned to the court, swishing a pair of threes, scoring 10 pts and grabbing seven boards.WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- The worst part of life is waiting. On the other hand, the best part of life is having someone worth waiting for.

For three members of the women’s basketball team at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Tuesday night was its own reward.

SAGU led from start to finish in their season debut, rolling past Dallas Christian College, 81-25, at the Sheaffer Center.

Rodriguez has been rehabbing an injury that has sidelined her for nearly two years. Winston, the team’s leading scorer two years ago, sat out last winter while recovering from surgery.

Roberts, who led the NAIA in blocked shots two years ago, returned to SAGU after being away for a year. With one season of eligibility remaining, she came back to the school and the game she loves.

Winston and Roberts started and Rodriguez came off the bench. Each revealed their trademark plays as though they hadn’t missed a beat.

Sophomore point guard Taylor Hill (Waxahachie, Tx / Waxahachie HS) stole the ball and spotted Rodriguez open on the wing.

SAGU led 22-13 when she drained the first of two triples. It gave her 68 career three-pointers.

Rodriguez went on to score 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in just 15 minutes.

The two seniors, Winston, a guard, and Roberts, a 6’0 center, had their own homecoming joy.

Winston triggered a trey from long distance extending the Lady Lions lead to 32-16 with 2:37 left in the first half. Senior guard Andrea Lugo(San Antonio, Tx / Somerset HS) was credited with the assist.

For Winston, who averaged 15.4 points per points in her last season, the trifecta was the 83rd in her career.

Roberts makes her impact on the defensive end as a swatter. Like a Venus Fly Trap, she has a knack for snuffing out enemy aerials.

As a junior she scored 8.3 ppg, latched on to 10.3 rebounds and blocked 114 shots. She was at it again on Tuesday, rejecting four shots against the Crusaders.

The Lady Lions had little difficulty with DCC, a young team with 11 freshmen and sophomores among their roster of 14.

Four players scored in double figures, led by Hill, who had 12 points and three steals. Playing the point, she made a lone turnover. In fact, SAGU coughed the ball up just 10 times while forcing 29 turnovers.